The woman goes to stare at a cell with a soiled mattress in it. Her hand reaches out and hesitantly touches the bars.
"I'm on this side now," she says, then bursts into tears, her arms wrapping tightly around herself.
"Oh, yes," says the man to Vox, "free as a bird. She can slime the guards with her snot to cover her escape. Well done, you. Therka. Therka!"
She shuffles towards him, her breath still hitching with sobs. She swallows.
"I'll let the church know, Iglestor. Surely they'll come... they're no mere apprentices..."
Iglestor slams himself against the bars in one swift move and snarls, "You'll do no such thing! Let them think I died. I deserve to rot here. I betrayed my order, and now the goddess has turned from me."
Therka grows agitated again, pacing in stops and starts. "You couldn't help it! That room, and the dark presence beyond the door - there was only ever one way out!"
"The goddess turns from no-one Iglestor. As a member of the church you should know that better than anyone! Now for the goddess's love stop being such a fool and tell me what's going on here!" Vox's voice reverberates around the room far longer than it should have done as she glares at the elf inside the bars.
Turning from him in frustration Vox crouches down next to Therka. "I'm sorry. I'm here to stop Baron Velstaf. He's been releasing some sort of plague into the city and using an artifact he possesses to charge huge amounts for a 'cure'. I know this is a raw topic but what door did you mean? What was behind it?"
"S-something terrible," Therka whimpers. "I don't know what. It screams, all the time."
"A being of stunning evil," says Iglestor. "I could sense it in the room by the torture chamber." He shrugs. "Until the day I gave up my order, and I couldn't anymore."
Therka stamps her foot. "Our savior speaks the truth. It took weeks. It wasn't your choice."
"Then that is likely the source of the plague. My duty is clear, I must end it. Therka, any knowledge you can give me about how to do this would be invaluable."
Turning to Iglestor Vox continues "You have given up. This is understandable but not acceptable. Unless you wish to remain down here until your death then you must help me. Is there anything else I can do to convince you of my sincerity? If you are going to help me then I need you in the best shape possible."
Therka shakes her head. "I don't know anything," she says. "I didn't want to know!"
Iglestor hesitates at Vox's words but then holds his hand out to Therka.
"Let's see if you two are right," he mutters.
When Therka takes his hand, he whispers something and some of her scrapes clear up. He lets go, astonished, and drops to his knees in prayer.
A moment later, he looks up at Vox. "You have no need to convince me of your sincerity. It was my own that was in question. I will help you.
"The Baron's guard, Azalor, is an evil man in the service of the dark god Gorzeria. He put me here when I lost to him in armed combat and tortured me for weeks. When I told him what my order knew of him, I thought I deserved to be here, but I will be glad to help you rid this house of evil now."
Vox's eyes glitter in a thoroughly predatory fashion when she hears of Azalor. "Where can we find this Azalor? I have a score of my own I need to settle with him!"
"He comes down here sometimes," says Iglestor, "otherwise I couldn't really tell you. What have you seen of the place so far? I should have a sword somewhere. Once I get my hands on it..." He rattles the bars of his cage.
"Should... should I be heading out on my own?" asks Therka timidly. "Is there a safe way to go?"
I can try and lead you out." Vox replies as she sets to the lock on Iglestor's cell. "But it's the middle of the morning outside so I don't imagine an exit would be easy. I think the best solution is for us to stick together, try and take down Azalor and then deal with this beast beyond the door. I think you're safest staying with us, if you can bear to do that. Otherwise I know a place where you can hide."
When she gets the door open Vox pulls Muthan from the sheath on her back and offers it to Iglestor. "I know its not your blade, but Muthan has served me well in the past. Best that you don't go unarmed. Now I came in through the guards quarters. Logic would suggest that the guard captain would sleep near the guards, perhaps upstairs. That seems like the best place to start."
Therka shrinks back. "I just want to leave," she says in a small voice. "I don't want to go in that room. I can try and help a little otherwise, but I don't know if I'd be much use."
Vox manages to unlock Iglestor's cell on the first try. He steps out. With the blade in his hand, he tests out a few moves, some that work better than other. He laughs awkwardly.
"A bit out of practice!" he says. "Can't help that now. Thanks. I'll follow where you lead."
Vox leads them both back through the cells and cautiously up the stairs towards the guards chamber.
If the opportunity arises to achieve one of the lower goals then Vox will take it, but I'm not sure how/where to go from here since I assume its the middle of the morning and not a good time to slip prisoners out.
As Vox and his party of prisoners open the door at the top of the stairway, they find that the diversion may be at an end. A guard is standing at the door as they make it back to the entrance, chatting to another one who is seated at the table.
"Prison break!" the closest one yells, unsheathing a sword.
"Been waiting to say that, haven't you?" the other one mutters. She stands, grabs a crossbow off the table, and shoots at Vox. The bolt whizzes past without hitting anyone.
Initiative - no surprise round
Guard 2 (far guard)
Vox
Guard 1 (close guard)
Iglestor
Therka
"Do you even know what the Baron keeps down there?" Vox asks, trying hard not to simply perforate them with Iolaire. "There is a demon under this manor, the source of the plague and all so he can enrich himself on other's misery!"
The guard who tried to shoot you lowers her bow, and the other one whirls around to face her.
"Did you know about this?" he asks her.
"Of course not!" she snaps, brow furrowed. "Did you? It explains the howling lately..."
"What she says is true," says Iglestor. "This mansion harbors a being of great evil that we seek to vanquish."
Therka whimpers and clutches her hair again but nods vehemently.
"We need to get my companion's weapons back so that we can fight this demon. Where would we find it? You need not aid us, simply give us information. Although if you could get this poor woman to the Temple of Nelleska that would be an act of kindness."
"If you're willing to leave the city or lay low," one of the guards says to Therka, "we can smuggle you out in a sack. We can pretend you got killed during your escape. No one looks twice at body bags in the city these days. Best we're away in case of trouble anyway."
Therka nods.
The other guard scratches her head. "I think Azalor might keep the prisoners' gear in his room. I heard him bragging about a sword once. He's usually asleep a couple hours more. If you take the stairs in this room up, his is the room right next to it. There's usually a guard and lieutenant on duty upstairs, though."
Her face darkens. "I know we may not have a leg to stand on here working for the baron, but the other guards and servants are our friends. Please don't hurt them."
"I have already sworn not to hurt any of the guards or servants. I consider the baron guilty, but those that work for him are not tarred by his brush - only your actions judge you and your actions are noble ones." Vox gives Therka a gentle push towards the guards and turns to Iglestor. "If you can be quiet then come with me, if not then I'll go in and get your weapon."
Iglestor blinks as Vox melts away into the shadows. "I certainly can't be quiet like that! You go ahead."
Vox heads upstairs, treading lightly and keeping a sharp eye out for the guards she has been told to expect. Reaching the top of the stairs she will attempt to slip past the guards if they are distracted. If not then she'll try and throw her voice out of a nearby window, getting them to look the other way long enough for her to make it to Azalor's rooms.
The circular staircase Vox ascends reaches the centre of a utilitarian room containing a few chairs, two desks and several larges stacks of paper. Two guards, one quite well-geared, than the other, are sitting down to some weapons sharpening when Vox arrives.
Vox's convincing meow draws the attention of the guards ("Thought we'd lost you, Tombo!") towards the window. She is able to sneak back out to the hallway, where only one guard is on duty on the door across the hall this time.
Vox easily spots the door the guards were referring to, though it is locked.
Vox slides down the wall, moving slowly and keeping out of the guards eyeline as much as possible as she extracts her lockpicks.
Keeping a wary eye on the guard she jimmies the lock, which rapidly opens under her skilled ministrations.
The lock does indeed rapidly open, revealing a spartan room. The only furniture is a plain wooden table, single wooden chair, and thinly padded cot in one corner. The latter happens to be occupied at the moment by a tall, whip-thin man with severe features.
A lone window illuminates the room. The walls are bare save for a large gray curtain hanging on the wall directly above the cot.
What do you think Iolaire? I'm no good at recognising human faces.
Peeking through a slit in the curtain behind the bed, Vox can see weapons hanging. A book on the table - one of those terrible screeds denouncing gnomekind for having the audacity to exist - has 'Azalor Macalvis' written on the inner cover in a crabbed, spiky script.
This is the man. For his racism, as well as his arrogance and unkindness to your family, I pronounce him judged.
Iolaire's voice is firm and carries a note of ageless authority. Vox, knowing Iolaire's purpose and trusting implicitly in the artifacts judgement, pulls an arrow from the quiver, fits it and releases in one smooth motion.
The whistling noise is almost imperceptible as the arrow flies across the room.
The arrow flies true and pierces through Azalor's throat. His eyes fly open but remain sightless as the arrow sinks itself deep into the bed. Thick rivulets of blood gush out and stain his thin mattress as his body twitches, powerless against the mortal wound he has been dealt.
Vox limps over to the chair and slumps down in it. Suddenly his leg is throbbing terribly. From where he sits Azalor's eyes seem to be watching him - surprised and slightly confused. "Singing the song of angry men, it is the music of a people who will not be slaves again. When the beating of your heart falls to the beating of the night, the light has gone out, when our judgement comes."
It is well done. Iolaire's voice echoes in his head. Now, get up and examine the curtain.
Pulling himself out of the chair Vox moves with a new purpose in his step. Pulling the curtain aside he and Iolaire combine their senses to search for Inglestor's weapon.
Vox finds four daggers, a greataxe, three longswords, a nunchaku, and a rapier, all well made. One of the daggers, the greataxe, the longsword, and the double-bladed sword are magical, the latter quite strongly so.
Underneath the bed is a magical mithral breastplate, magical gauntlets, a wand, a tightly strung composite longbow and 30 arrows, and a purse of 20 platinum pieces. Azalor has a ring with three keys and a barbed and twisted holy symbol on his person.
This is going to be difficult Iolaire. I can't carry it all. One of these much be Inglestor's though...
Working carefully and systematically Vox slides the dagger and longsword into her belt. She slings the greataxe and double bladed sword across her back where Iolaire usually sits. The gauntlets and wand are deposited into Vox's backpack, as well as the purse. The keys are slung onto her belt as well. Lastly Vox straps the breastplate loosely over the rest of her (now substantial) armoury.
Before she leaves Vox removes her arrow andtweaks the bedsheets to conceal the wound left behind. What I did was just, but that doesn't mean I have to advertise it to the world. If letting the guards think he sleeps will give us more time then we should use it. Iolaire merely hums in response but Vox can feel the artifacts approval.
Slinking back to the door Vox peers through the keyhole to establish the guards positions before attempting to slip past them, mimicking the sound of a loud coughing fit from behind them if need be to cover her escape. She declines to relock the door, favouring speed instead.
Vox makes it past the guards without issue as they rush over to the window, yelling.
Vox hurries back down the stairs to find Inglestor. Once there she offers him the breastplate and whichever of the weapons she located that he finds most comfortable. Iolaire's attention however is focused on the magic items they located, trying to deduce their purpose.
When Vox returns, Iglestor emerges from underneath the table.
"Well met!" he says, his face relaxing. "The guards have gone to smuggle Therka out."
He gives a cry of surprise when Vox shows him the magical sword she found. "Varistan! I thought I would never see it again, let alone wield it." He pulls it out and gives a few experimental swings.
He dons the breastplate hastily. "This armor is very fine. I will have to return it to you when our business is complete." Then, he secures the magic dagger to a belt from the guards' stores. "I won't be caught without a backup weapon again! You keep the rest. I owe you a great debt, and I will be going back to the church and have no further need of worldly goods."
Iolaire determines that the gauntlets are bracers of lesser archery. The wand is a wand of Cure Light Wounds, which Iglestor says he can use easily.
Iglestor notices Iolaire's efforts with interest. "What manner of sword do you have there?" He touches the string gently and bows his head, praying over the weapon for a moment. "Perhaps this may help convey my gratitude! Now that you have returned me to Nelleska, I have asked her for a boon. She has granted me the chance to share one of my abilities. Since you wield a weapon of justice, I have shared the power to detect evil. Sometimes, it is more distraction than anything else, but it will always steer you right."
"Now, what is your plan? I will follow your lead, although I'm afraid I cannot disappear as you can."
Vox slips the bracers on when Iolaire conveys its findings without comment. Iglestor's kindness however elicits a smile from the normally stoic vigilante. "Thank you Iglestor. We both appreciate it - not many will share their own abilities, let alone with one like me."
Looking around Vox pauses for a moment. "It seems we have two targets - the Star itself and the source of this contagion. The evidence I have uncovered suggests a demon or other conjured creature must be the source of the plague so destroying that must be the first priority. Additionally we need to secure the Star. If we are fortunate the baron will keep it somewhere locked up that we can access, if it is on his person then we will have to arrange something else, perhaps leave evidence that will lead to an enquiry by the church. For now we should return to the dungeons and investigate the further door." Vox turns towards the exit. "I'm sorry," she throws over her shoulder, "I know that must be hard for you. I wouldn't ask if there was another way."
Iglestor squares his shoulders and nods firmly. "Evil like that must be battled. I have tried to sense it before and been stunned by the magnitude of it - your bow should avoid that for now."
The door with the bloody handprint in the torture chamber is locked, an eerie wailing drifting through the keyhole.
"Nelleska help me, I was a bit relieved when the terrible sounds coming from here weren't all Therka," Iglestor says.
"I can understand why." Vox replies, crouching down to tackle the lock. "The sound is enough to set my teeth on edge." As she works on the door Vox begins first to hum and then to sing, softly and with a distinct air of menace.
"Do you hear the people sing? Singing the songs of angry men. It is the music of a people who will not be slaves again. When the beating of their hearts echoes the beating of the drums, then the dark shall fear for justice comes!"
Vox manages to unlock the door.
Upon opening the door, she can see that the room is lit only by seven candles on tall stands arranged in a large circle. In the center of the circle of candles is a circle on the floor drawn with silver dust.
In the circle is a large, vaguely humanoid figure. Its face is misshapen with pointed ears, jagged teeth, and yellow eyes. Its bones show through its skin, which is covered by a red slime. Its hands end in long sharp claws.
The creature stops its persistent eerie wailing as it turns around, baring its teeth in what must pass as a smile for its kind.
"Well, well, who do we have here? Always happy to have visitors."
It hisses a little as its gaze moves on to Iglestor.
"I've been locked up too long," mutters Iglestor. "I have no idea who, or what, this is."
"It's a demon." Vox replies. "Do we need to know anything more?"
Iolaire's voice rings inside Vox's skull and from Iglestor's flinch she can see that he heard it too.
"Speak to it. Distract it for a moment so I can hide. I will attack when it least expects. If it survives and attacks us then strike it down!"
Damage: 13 + 16 = 29/73
"We are looking to end the tyranny of the Baron Velstaf," says Iglestor, following Vox's cue. "You cannot be very happy with him for..."
... and then Vox strikes!
The creature shrieks with a cry that echoes forth sounds like nails on slate. Arrows that should have pierced through its hide merely stick in its thick, slimy skin. It flings itself towards Vox but slams into the edge of the circle surrounding it.
"You'll pay for that!" it howls.
Iglestor stops trying to distract the creature. He casts a spell over his weapon after seeing the effects that Vox's arrows have on it.
Initiative: Dastardly Foe, Iglestor, Vox
"Don't break the circle!" Vox cries, seeing the creature unable to leave. "As long as it is bound it cannot harm us!" So saying Vox strings more arrows and fires swiftly.
One of the arrows narrowly misses the creature, while the other sinks into its hide.
The creature starts muttering in a guttural tone, and the room goes dark.
His voice sounds in Vox's and Iolaire's minds.
I did not choose to be here. Lay down your arms, let me go, and I can enact your justice on this household for you. There is no need for you to die here.
Iglestor yells, "Die, monster!", and Vox hears him move.
Help me! Vox thinks, notching another arrow to the bow. She breathes deeply and holds it for a moment, tracking the arrow through the darkness.
Now! cries Iolaire, and Vox lets the arrows fly one after the other, before stepping sideways to avoid retaliation.
Not sure if its my Int or Iolaire's but we have the same anyway...
Iolaire knows from the newfound ability to detect evil that it will take several rounds to be able to detect the creature's location. Iolaire currently senses a faint aura of evil in the room.
Vox hears her arrows clatter to the floor.
The creature snarls and snaps out. Igelstor grunts in pain but mutters a quick prayer. There is a thunk, and the creature shrieks.
Igelstor Damage = 25/64
Igelstor Damage = 7/64
Klextha Damage = 43 + 14 = 57/73